Below are some answers to some frequently asked questions.

What do I need to watch the films?

You will need Macromedia Flash to watch the films. If you need to, you can download it for free here.

How do I navigate between universities?

There are two ways to navigate the site. You can either use the ring feature – just move your cursor left or right to pan from one university to the next. Alternatively, there’s a corresponding list on the right hand side that you can scroll down to find the university you’re looking for.

Can I download the videos?

Due to copyright restrictions the videos are only available to view online via our website.

I just want to watch a particular section, how can I do that?

Below each film you’ll notice the individual sections going from left to right. Just click on the one you’re interested in and it’ll jump straight to it.

How can I find out where a particular university is in the country?

Beside the film you should see a location link. You can zoom in and out of the map, depending on what it is you want to see. We’ve included a number of relevant locations to give you a good idea of where everything is.

Who are the students being interviewed?

We’ve tried to interview a range of students. They all study, or have studied, at the university in question. Most films will include a student union president, society representatives, and student ambassadors. Also, we interview students from a variety of subjects, from archaeology to zoology, via everything in between. They also come from every stage of the university career, from freshers who’ve just started, to PhD students soon sitting their viva.

Why isn’t every university on the site?

We spend a lot of time researching and filming each university. Unfortunately, we can only film during term time to avoid making a university look like a ghost town, so we’re limited by time. Having said that, we’re in contact with the next round of universities and we’ll be filming them shortly. Our aim is to have all the British universities on the website in the near future.

Are you independent?

We’ve found, at every university we’ve visited, students that relish their time there. Why is that? We think it’s down to a number of factors. Firstly, if they didn’t enjoy it, they could leave – you’re at university because you want to be there after all. Secondly, the support networks available, such as at the student unions, ensure that student life at a university is enjoyable, if demanding. Another reason is that each university offers a unique experience, and that experience appeals to the students that are there. We at Unionview try to summarise what that university is like to live and study at, leaving you to decide whether you think you would enjoy your time there. The universities don’t pay us for these films, though we do work with their full cooperation to capture what we think is the general essence of the university, and they trust us to do that in a fair and balanced way. So, in answer to the question, we’d say we’re pretty independent.

Why don’t you rank the universities?

We are not a ranking service. Instead we concentrate on what a university looks like and what sort of people will enjoy the experience there. There are plenty of ranking services available, try the Times or the Guardian websites for domestic tables, or THEQS for a global perspective.

What should I look for in a university?

Wow, there’s a question! Start by thinking about what sort of place you want to study at – do you want to be in a big city or surrounded by countryside? In a large university or a small campus? Do you want to be near home? Or an airport? Next, what grades have you got – some universities require better entry grades than others. The reputation of the university might come into your decision too. Ask yourself what kind of extra-curricular activities are important to you – does the university have the facilities? Above all, you need to find the place that will best suit you, and that you’ll be happy to spend at least three years living and studying at.

I like the look of a couple of universities, what should I do next?

If you’ve found a university you like, your next step should be to check out their website (a link is available for each university). Then you should try and arrange a visit to see first hand what the place is actually like. A good time to do this is on an official open day, as you’ll get the chance to talk to tutors and students currently studying there. Most universities, however, are more than happy to welcome you at other times if you just want to have a look around.

Got something else on your mind?

If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for here drop us a line using our feedback form here.